suicidal

[soo-uh-sahyd-l]

adjective

1. pertaining to, involving, or suggesting suicide.

2. tending or leading to suicide.

3. foolishly or rashly dangerous.

   He drives at a suicidal speed.

suicidal

/ ˌsjuː-, ˌsuːɪˈsaɪdəl /

adjective

1. involving, indicating, or tending towards suicide

2. liable to result in suicide

   a suicidal attempt

3. liable to destroy one's own interests or prospects; dangerously rash

Other Word Forms

• suicidally adverb
• pseudosuicidal adjective
• unsuicidal adjective
• unsuicidally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of suicidal¹

First recorded in 1770–80; suicide + -al ¹

Example Sentences

“This is a miraculous thing,” said retired MMA fighter Tait Fletcher, who credits the treatment with freeing him from suicidal ideation.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the firm's posts also referenced how subjects had felt suicidal.

From BBC

They described feeling lonely and even suicidal, and said they realised what they had done was wrong.

From BBC

The family included chat logs between Adam, who died in April, and ChatGPT that show him explaining he has suicidal thoughts.

From BBC

“To be or not to be” goes beyond suicidal thought — it’s about existence itself.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dangerous 
• deadly 
• depressed 
• destructive 
• fatal 
• lethal